Obama comes around to my way of thinking
For once, the president and I agree on something. Even though I said it first, we agree.
At a speech Saturday at the University of Michigan, Obama delivered a commencement address. During the speech he rambled on about the divergent viewpoints in this country and "inflammatory soundbites" and the lack of civility.
But then he said this:
"But if we choose to actively seek out information that challenges our assumptions and our beliefs, perhaps we can begin to understand where the people who disagree with us are coming from.
"Now, this requires us to agree on a certain set of facts to debate from. That's why we need a vibrant and thriving news business that is separate from opinion makers and talking heads. (Applause.) That's why we need an educated citizenry that values hard evidence and not just assertion. (Applause.) As Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously once said, "Everybody is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." (Laughter.)
"Still, if you're somebody who only reads the editorial page of The New York Times, try glancing at the page of The Wall Street Journal once in a while. If you're a fan of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, try reading a few columns on the Huffington Post website. It may make your blood boil; your mind may not be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship. (Applause.) It is essential for our democracy. (Applause.)"
He then blew it by claiming that the graduates of UM had spent four years "exposed to diverse thinkers and scholars, professors and students." He did not mean it as a laugh line.
